Doll figure



April 1939- E. T. MYERS 2,154,635

DOLL FIGURE Filed Aug. 5, 1935 Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFF-ICE signor of one-half to St. Paul, Minn.

Olga A. Lindquist, North Application August 5, 1935, Serial No. 34,702

Claims.

My invention relates to a toy doll which is made up in a manner so thata series of these dolls may constitute an entire family, such as themother, father, son, daughter, the baby, and any other 5 relatives thatmay be desired to be represented in this family of dolls. Each doll hasthe same skeleton structure, but is dressed, and the head is decoratedto indicate the individual of the family which the doll is to represent.

A feature resides in making the toy doll out of wooden clothespins whichare formed with a bifurcated or slit end and the other end of which isformed with a knob or head portion. The skeleton of the doll is made upby providing a wooden block of rectangular formation, having squaresides, bottom, front, back, and top portions. The head is a separatemember and is adapted to be connected to the body by a resilient memberwhich extends longitudinally through the head from the crown and throughthe integral neck portion formed with the head and extendinglongitudinally through the body of the doll.

A feature resides in forming the skeleton of the doll with arms and legsformed of clothespins. In the structure of the arms, bifurcated ends areattached to the body by a resilient member which extends transverselythrough the same and connects the bifurcated ends of the pins to provide30 the two arms for the doll. The legs may be formed by connecting twoof the clothespins to form an adjustable knee joint by attaching thebifurcated end of one clothespin to the head end of another by anadjustable bolt means. A foot portion is provided on the lower or calfend of the leg by adjustably attaching a flat, broad foot member to thehead of the pin. The upper or thigh portion of the leg which is formedby the upper clothespins may be resiliently connected 40 to the body bya transverse resilient member extending through the body portion. Theinner portion of the bifurcated ends of the thigh pin may be cut awaywith a square shoulder to form a means of adjustably supporting the legin relation to the body.

My doll is of a simple nature and is made up by using clothespinsconnected together in such a manner as to permit the doll to be set intodifferent positions of a natural character to simulate an individual,and having means for adjustably positioning the limbs which can be setin postures similar to humans, thereby making the doll very attractive.Further, my doll is provided with broad, fiat feet which may beadjustably positioned on the lower end of the leg so as to permitdifferent postures of the feet to be secured, yet providing flat bearingmeans so that my doll will readily stand up in these adjustablepositions.

Further, the dolls may be made of different sizes to represent thedifferent members of the 5 family by using different sized bodies anddifferent sized pins. It is also a feature to provide a doll with a headmade of extremely light weight wood, or other light weight material, sothat the balance of the doll on its feet will be more perfect in indifferent postures.

There are other features of my doll, together with the structure thereofwhich will be more fully and clearly set forth in the specification andclaims.

In the drawing forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of my doll, showing the samedressed as a lady to represent the mother doll. 20

Figure 2 illustrates a front elevation of the body of my doll, withoutany clothes on the same.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the body of the doll, undressed.

Figure 4 illustrates another view of the body of my doll undressed,showing a different posture in side elevation from that illustrated inFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 in the direction ofthe arrows in enlarged formation.

Figure 6 is a detail showing various adjustments of the arms of my doll,to show relative adjustable positions that the arms can be placed in inrelation to the body.

Figure '7 is a detail of one of the adjustable feet of my doll, to showthe manner in which the toe end of the foot may be moved in eitherdirection as indicated by the arrows.

Figure 8 illustrates a side view of an alternative 40 construction ofone of the arms of my doll, showing two small clothespins connectedtogether to form an elbow joint.

My doll may be formed of wood or other suitable material, and isprovided with a rectangularsided body portion A, a head portion B, armsC, and legs D.

The body A of my doll when formed of wood is provided with the flat sidesurfaces H], a flat top portion II, a flat bottom portion l2, and thefront fiat face I3 and the back flat face [4.

The head B is formed preferably of a light Weight material, such asbalsa Wood, which is light and has a character so that it will make thehead B of the proper shape as shown. I have designed the head with thedesirable shape so that it may be used for the mother or father doll,and it is adapted to be decorated with the hair l5, and with thefeatures l6 of the face so as to indicate the sex of the doll as well asthe features which would designate the age, such as a child or adult.

The head B is provided with a neck portion I! which has a lower flatsurface 18 which is adapted to normally rest against the top H of thebody A. This holds the head in the proper position. The head B is heldresiliently by the rubber band [9 which extends from the crown 20 of thehead longitudinally through the head B and longitudinally through thebody A to the lower surface 12. The ends of the rubber band l9 may beformed with a knot or other shoulder portion so as to lock the headresiliently and adjustably in relation to the body A. Thus the head maybe turned from side to side or around, into the position desired inadjusting the posture of the doll.

The arms C of the doll are made of clothespins, being of the woodenstyle of clothespin having a slit or bifurcated clamping end, formingthe two end members 2 I. These ends are cut with square surfaces 22 onthe sides and a square-d end 23 so that the arms C may be adjusted intothe different positions such as are illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 6.

The arms C may be adjusted so that the squared ends 23 will bear againstthe flat side 10 as illustrated in Figure 6 and as shown by the left armC in Figure 1. The arms C may also be set so as to depend as illustratedin Figure 2, with the surfaces 22 bearing against the flat surfaces M orwith the arm elevated as illustrated by the left arm in Figure 6. Thebifurcated end portions 2| of the pins which form the arms C space thesquared faces 22 and 23 apart so as to provide a spaced apart bearingsurface to hold either of the arms C in set adjusted position.

The arms C are adapted to be resiliently connected by the rubber band 24which extends transversely through the body A at the shoulders thereof,the band 24 extending through a slot 25 between the ends 2| and thenpassing through the holes 26, and forming a loop 2'! around the outerend of the bifurcated portions 2| as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5. Thehead end of the pins which form the arms C, are the free ends of thearms and the knob on the end of the pin forms the hand structure for thedoll.

The arms may be formed by single clothespins C or may be formedasillustrated in Figure 8, by connecting the clothespins 28 and 28' by anadjustable bolt 29. The head of the pin 28 is flattened on the sides soas to fit between the bifurcated ends 2| of the pin 28 and then the bolt29 passes through the bifurcated ends of the flattened head connectingthe two pins 28 and 28 together to form the elbow joint 30. The pins 28and 28' may be small in character so as to represent the arms C of thedoll with an elbow joint 30.

The legs D are made by connecting the clothespin 3| with the clothespin32, the pin 3| forming the calf and foot portion of the leg D, while thepin 32 forms the thigh. In the formation of the legs D, the headportions 33 of the pins 32 are made fiat so as to fit between thebifurcated ends 34 of the pins 3| and then an adjusting bolt 35 extendsthrough the ends 34 and the head 33 to form an adjustable knee joint 36for each leg D. This permits the legs D to be adjusted into the desiredposition. 7

The thigh portion 32 of each leg is formed by cutting away a portion ofthe inner bifurcated end 31, while the outer bifurcated end 38 extendsto form the hip 39. In cutting away a portion of the ends 31 of the pins32, a square shoulder end 40 is formed. The square portion 40 provides ashoulder by engaging against the bottom surface l2 of the body A, or thefront surface l3, or the back surface H! of the body A, to hold the legD in the desired adjusted position. For instance, if it is desired toraise the leg D as illustrated in Figure 4, the same is moved into thisposition, whereupon the shoulder squared end 40 will engage against thesurface l3.

A rubber band or other flexible member 42 extends transversely throughthe body A and through the hip portions 39 of the legs 32 so as toresiliently connect the legs D to the body A. The binder 42 provides thedesired tension to hold the legs D firmly against the body and to form Jan adjustment which permits the legs to be set in the various naturalpostures.

Each leg D is provided with a broad flat foot portion E 50 as to form abearing surface which makes it easy for the doll to stand up. The foot Eis pivotally connected by a suitable nail or screw 43 which extendsthrough the heel 44 of the foot and up into the lower end of the leg D.Thus the foot E can be adjusted in either direction as indicated by thearrows in Figure 7 on the lower end of the leg D, if it is desired.

It will be apparent that my doll may be dressed in any suitable manner,and I have indicated one of these dolls dressed as the mother, in Figure1, with a dress F of a suitable character, to indicate the mother of thefamily, who is also illustrated with glasses and a hair dress toindicate her mature age. Another doll may be dressed as the father,having the, masculine matured facial features on the head B, andpossibly with whiskers or a mustache, not illustrated in the drawing.Another doll may be dressed and made up to indicate the daughter, andanother the son, and still another may be made in a small form tosimulate the infant of the family. I have made these dolls in this formso as to indicate an entire family and they appear very attractive aswell as having the natural appeal, not only to children but all membersof the family.

My dolls may be used in any suitable manner and may be given as premiumsso that a whole family of these dolls may be collected and they are verydesirable for this purpose. The structure of the body of the doll issuch as to make it easy for anyone to adjust the same into differentnatural postures of an extremely interesting and amusing character.

A feature resides in providing a head B for the doll made of lightweight wood, such as balsa, or other light weight wood or material,while the body A is of a heavier nature so as to provide the balancingweight for the doll. The knees of the doll are formed with the necessaryfrictional engagement by the adjustment of the bolt 35 therein and thusthe doll may be adjusted into leaning postures of different characters,including the posture assumed in walking, running, or leaning or bendingover. It is not practical to show all of these different postures ofadjustment of my doll, but they will be apparent, just as it will alsobe apparent that the skeleton of the doll may be dressed and decoratedto simulate different characters of a family. When dressed up into thesediiferent characters, I have found that my dolls are very attractive andentertaining.

I claim:

1. A doll comprising a rectangular shaped flatsided body, the sides ofwhich extend parallel to each other, a head adapted to rest squarely onthe flat top of said body, a longitudinally disposed resilient memberextending through said body and head to connect the same together, armshaving a series of adjustable flat faces on the inner ends thereof tosupport the arms in different adjusted set positions, an adjustablefriction elbow joint in said arms, resilient means extendingtransversely through said body adapted to connect the socket ends ofsaid arms to the body, legs having adjustable friction knee joints andbroad, thin, flat feet, a hip shoulder formed on each of said legs forholding the respective legs in different adjusted positions, andresilient means extending transversely through said body for supportingthe hip ends of said legs.

2. A doll having a body including a pair of flat bearing surfaces, apair of arms having tapered inner ends, and flat extremities, andresilient means holding said arms against said flat surfaces so thatsaid arms may extend out at substantially right angles from said body,or may extend at a slight angle with said body.

3. A doll having rectangular body means, and legs secured pivotallythereto, each leg including a bifurcated member, one furcation of whichis shorter than the other, resilient means pivotally securing saidlonger portion to one surface of said body, said short portion engaginganother surface of said body to prevent pivoting of said legs.

4. A doll including a body portion, a limb pivotally connected thereto,said body portion being provided with four adjoining surfaces adjacentthe point of pivotal connection; said limb being pivoted to one surfacesubstantially midway between two other surfaces, resilient pivot meansconnecting said limb to said body, and shoulder means on said limbengageable with either of said two surfaces between which said limb ispivoted to prevent pivoting of said limb.

5. A doll including a body portion, said body portion having opposedsides, a front, a back, and a bottom; a limb resiliently pivoted to aside wall at a point substantially equally spaced from said front, back,and bottom; and shoulder means on said limb engageable against eithersaid front, back, or bottom to prevent pivoting of said limb.

EMILY T. MYERS.

